"We have, thank God, a constitution," exclaimed Mr. Miliukov after June 3rd, 1907. With such amusing assurances the leader of the liberal bourgeoisie consoled himself, masking its distrust of the people, its unwillingness, its fear of departing from the "constitutional" path.

It is extremely characteristic that precisely now, when that same Mr. Miliukov or his staid, official-liberal *Rech'* recognize "the beginning of a general upsurge" (No. 26), the collapse of these constitutional illusions becomes evident. The desire to brush aside an unpleasant reality (and from the unpleasant necessity of a path that does not resemble a "constitutional" one)—the desire to lull themselves and others with "constitutional" platitudes, therein lies the basis of these illusions.

But look at the liberals' comments on the current moment!

"In the Duma it is tedious, because there is no struggle" (No. 25).

You had quite the audacity, gentlemen, to declare that we have a constitution!

"All words have been spoken. Now deeds are needed, but there is no faith in them. Hence the apathy" (ibid.).

You lulled yourselves with faith in words, addressing them primarily to the Octobrists. You now confess that you covered up the absence of faith in deeds with these words.

You have pronounced your own condemnation, gentlemen liberals.

Democracy in general—workers in particular—had no faith in words (about the constitution)...[49]

Written in late January–early February 1913.

First published in 1948 in the 4th edition of V. I. Lenin's *Collected Works*, vol. 18

Printed from the manuscript